Leo McKinstry

Leo McKinstry is a British journalist and author

Boris got it just about right with his speech last night, says LEO McKINSTRY

Winston Churchill said that the "British people like to be told the worst". In his powerful broadcast, Boris Johnson did not hide from the daunting challenge ahead of us. Despite the falling death rate, the coronavirus remains "the most vicious threat that the country has faced in my lifetime", he warned, so there cannot yet be a significant relaxation of the lockdown.

After the media excitement last week about an advance towards freedom, the Prime Minister struck a far more guarded note. His emphasis was on caution rather than boldness. Britain was now past the "initial peak", he claimed, "but it is often coming down the mountain that is the most dangerous".

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It would therefore be "madness" to throw away what has been achieved so far and risk a renewed spike.

Indeed, yesterday Germany revealed that infections there have started to rise after the nation lifted its lockdown.

The Prime Minister looked healthier than he has done in weeks since his own COVID-19 ordeal, but this was a very different leader from the one who had triumphed in the General Election only five months ago.

He was resolute, punchy but sombre, reflecting the brutal choice his Government faces between protecting lives and avoiding the ruination of the economy.

The Prime Minister's emphasis was on caution not boldness (Image: No 10)

Many people – particularly in the business world – who have been clamouring for a return to normality will have found his speech an anti-climax.

But the Prime Minister did set out some steps for gradually opening up society again.

We will be allowed to take unlimited exercise, for instance, while employees who cannot operate from home will be encouraged to return to their workplaces.

In the longer-term, if the rate of infections continues to drop, then shops and schools could begin re-opening in June.

Boris Johnson (Image: No 10)

These measures will be backed up by not only by an expanding testing regime, but also a new colour-coded alert system, ranging from green (1) for no transmissions to red (5) which will mean the virus is spreading at a dangerous rate.

For all the Prime Minister's eloquence, there were two serious weaknesses in his plan.

One is the new slogan, "Stay Alert" which is all but meaningless.

The other is the proposal to quarantine all air travellers to Britain for at least a fortnight.

Such a measure is far too late.

It should have been imposed when the first COVID-19 cases arose.

Moreover, it is impractical and will do further damage to the tourism sector.

It would be far better to test all arrivals and require those from high-risk countries to carry immunity certificates.

But overall, in his gradualist approach towards ending the lockdown, the Prime Minister is acting with the grain of public opinion.